Example
We use cookies and similar tools to enhance your shopping experience, to provide our services, understand how customers use our services so we can make improvements, and display ads. The latest tweets from @ABC.
Create a link to W3Schools.com:
More 'Try it Yourself' examples below.
Definition and Usage
The <a> tag defines a hyperlink, which is used to link from one page to another.
The most important attribute of the <a> element is the href attribute, which indicates the link's destination.
By default, links will appear as follows in all browsers:
- An unvisited link is underlined and blue
- A visited link is underlined and purple
- An active link is underlined and red
Tips and Notes
Tip: If the <a> tag has no href attribute, it is only a placeholder for a hyperlink.
Tip: A linked page is normally displayed in the current browser window, unless you specify another target.
Tip: Use CSS to style links: CSS Links and CSS Buttons.
A Quiet Place
Browser Support
| Element | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| <a> | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Attributes
| Attribute | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| download | filename | Specifies that the target will be downloaded when a user clicks on the hyperlink |
| href | URL | Specifies the URL of the page the link goes to |
| hreflang | language_code | Specifies the language of the linked document |
| media | media_query | Specifies what media/device the linked document is optimized for |
| ping | list_of_URLs | Specifies a space-separated list of URLs to which, when the link is followed, post requests with the body ping will be sent by the browser (in the background). Typically used for tracking. |
| referrerpolicy | no-referrer no-referrer-when-downgrade origin origin-when-cross-origin same-origin strict-origin-when-cross-origin unsafe-url | Specifies which referrer information to send with the link |
| rel | alternate author bookmark external help license next nofollow noreferrer noopener prev search tag | Specifies the relationship between the current document and the linked document |
| target | _blank _parent _self _top | Specifies where to open the linked document |
| type | media_type | Specifies the media type of the linked document |
Global Attributes
The <a> tag also supports the Global Attributes in HTML.
Event Attributes
The <a> tag also supports the Event Attributes in HTML.
More Examples
Example
How to use an image as a link:
<img border='0' alt='W3Schools' src='logo_w3s.gif' width='100' height='100'>
</a>
Example
How to open a link in a new browser window:
Example
How to link to an email address:
Example
How to link to a phone number:
Try it Yourself »Example
How to link to another section on the same page:
Try it Yourself »Example
How to link to a JavaScript:
Related Pages
HTML tutorial: HTML Links
HTML DOM reference: Anchor Object
CSS Tutorial: Styling Links
Default CSS Settings
Most browsers will display the <a> element with the following default values:
A-z Reading
color: (internal value);
text-decoration: underline;
cursor: auto;
}
a:link:active, a:visited:active {
color: (internal value);
}